Lottery gaming method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a lottery type game for play on a game medium wherein the lottery type game comprises a primary game area having therein a plurality of target symbols and a secondary game area having a plurality game symbols therein. The game symbols are positioned in one or more arrangements within the secondary game area. During play of the game, target symbols are used to reveal game symbols within the one or more arrangements through actions including matching of target and game symbols. Prior to play of the lottery type game at least one of the primary game area or the secondary game area is concealed from the view of the player, wherein during play of the game some or all of the concealed symbols are revealed. Prize determining means are associated with the game medium, wherein a predetermined prize is associated with each arrangement of game symbols. A prize associated with a particular arrangement of game symbols is won when all of the game symbols associated with the particular arrangement are revealed during play of the game. The winning of a lottery type game according to the present invention may not be accomplished solely by matching target symbols with game symbols, an additional action or revealed game symbol can typically be required in order to reveal a complete arrangement of game symbols. This additional action or game symbol identification can provide a player with an additional incentive to play the game, since by just revealing the target symbols one is typically unable to determine if a prize is won.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of games and moreparticularly to the field of lottery type games.

BACKGROUND

In the past, lottery games were introduced in which players couldpurchase tickets for which the results could instantly be determined.These games generally included a scratch-off ticket (or game piece)where a number of items were to be matched according to a predeterminedwinning scheme. These types of games are often played for entertainmentpurposes and are often run by government agencies in order to raiserevenue. These types of games are most often games of chance where aplayer purchases a ticket valid for one or more plays of the game,wherein this ticket provides an opportunity to win a pool of money orsome other valuable prize.

There are two kinds of scratch-off games, deterministic andprobabilistic. An example of predetermined (or deterministic) play is aticket having one or more covered playing areas which can be revealed byremoving rub and reveal material, for example aluminium permeated latex.When the playing areas are uncovered, the information printed on theticket completely determines whether the ticket is a winning ticket.When the tickets are printed, the sponsor predetermines the number ofwinners by controlling the number of winning tickets printed. Thedisadvantage of deterministic games is that most tickets are non-winningand, therefore, the player feels he or she has little or no control overthe game.

On the other hand, an example of a probability game is a game piecehaving three sections, each having two covered playing areas where awinning symbol is present in only one of the playing areas in eachsection. To win, the winning symbols must be the only symbols revealed.The sponsor, therefore, depends upon probability distribution to controlthe prize allocation, since potentially, each ticket is a winner. Theproblem with probability games is that the game can often be “cracked”or a larger than expected number of people could be lucky. In eithercase, the sponsor could potentially lose money. Also, significantvalidation problems exist with probability games. For instance, in orderto validate such tickets, the validator must know which boxes have beenscratched off from a particular ticket.

In the prior art there are a number of “scratch and win” lottery typetickets that are associated with words or scrambled words. For example,there is the “Wheel of Fortune” scratch ticket offered by the MichiganLottery, the “Jumble” scratch ticket produced by Frost Productions andthe “Operation” scratch ticket available in Australia. Each of thesetickets comprise a first game area having a plurality of concealedletters that are revealed by a player, and the player subsequentlyattempts to correlate these revealed letters with letters in scrambledor unscrambled words in a second game area If all of the letters withinone of the scrambled or unscrambled words are correlated with theletters in the first game area, the player wins the prize associatedwith that particular matched word.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,246 discloses a lottery ticket having afirst game area with a grid of target letters arranged so that at leastsome of the letters form target words and a second game area having alist of pre-selected game words which are covered by a scratch-offlayer. The game words are matched with the target words to determine ifa prize has been won. The winning structure is based on the number ofgame words that match target words found in the first area.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,991 discloses a scratch of ticket that relates to agame method for bingo-like games. The game can be played on differentformats, namely a scratch-off game card, a pull-tab type card or a videodisplay terminal. The two games disclosed in the patent are Bingo andKeno and in each case a primary game area and one or several secondarygame areas are present. The primary area contains a number of hiddenpredetermined numbers that the player reveals and matches with numberscontained in the secondary area(s).

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,052 discloses a game piece and amethod of simulating a player selection lottery game using the gamepiece. The game piece has a primary game area that contains targetnumber combinations, for example 3 or 4 digit numbers. It has secondarygame areas having different matching structures for matching with targetnumber combinations from the primary game area. The game described alsohas, for each matching structure, a predetermined prize indicia. Therelevant match types include a potential “exact order” match to asecondary playing area, an “any order” match to a secondary playingarea, a “plurality” match to a secondary playing area, and a “singledigit” match to a secondary playing area. If the criteria of the matchtype are met, the game piece is redeemable for the prize indicated inthe associated predetermined prize indicia.

Each of the above games provide a scratch of type game that involves therevealing of a predetermined number of letters and then determining ifthese letters provide one with the ability to spell any of the wordsassociated with a prize. As such once the letter have been revealed thewinning or losing of the game is immediately determined. Therefore thereis a need for a lottery type game wherein upon the revealing of apredetermined number of first symbols, a player must continue to playthe game in order to determine if they win prize, thereby resulting in aplayer interacting with the lottery type game for an extended period oftime potentially increasing a players enjoyment of the lottery typegame.

This background information is provided for the purpose of making knowninformation believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to thepresent invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should beconstrued, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior artagainst the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a lottery gaming methodand apparatus. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,there is provided a method of playing a lottery type game comprising thesteps of: providing a game medium including: a primary game area on saidgame medium, said primary game area having a plurality of target symbolstherein, said target symbols being concealed from a player prior to playof the lottery type game; a secondary game area on said game medium,said secondary game area comprising one or more arrangements of gamesymbols, a predetermined number of the game symbols corresponding totarget symbols; and a prize determining means on said game medium, saidprize determining means enabling a player to determine if the player haswon a prize after play of the lottery type game; revealing said targetsymbols; matching and revealing game symbols in said secondary game areausing said target symbols; determining if an entire arrangement of gamesymbols in the secondary game area is matched or revealed using thetarget symbols; and awarding the player the prize associated with aparticular arrangement of game symbols if the entire arrangement of gamesymbols is matched or revealed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided alottery type game apparatus enabling play of a lottery type game, saidapparatus having displayed thereon: a primary game area having aplurality of target symbols therein, said primary game area beingconcealed from a player prior to play of the lottery type game; asecondary game area comprising one or more arrangements of game symbols,a predetermined number of the game symbols corresponding to targetsymbols, a prize determining means for determining a prize based onmatching target symbols with game symbols, the prize corresponding to anarrangement of game symbols being awarded when an entire arrangement ofgame symbols in the secondary game area is matched or revealed using thetarget symbols.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of playing a lottery type game comprising the steps of: providinga game medium including: a primary game area on said game medium, saidprimary game area having a plurality of target symbols therein; asecondary game area on said game medium, said secondary game areacomprising one or more arrangements of game symbols, a predeterminednumber of the game symbols corresponding to target symbols, wherein atleast one of the primary game area and the secondary game area areconcealed from a player prior to play of the lottery type game; and aprize determining means on said game medium, said prize determiningmeans enabling a player to determine if the player has won a prize afterplay of the game; revealing target symbols and game symbols that areconcealed; matching game symbols in said secondary game area using saidtarget symbols; determining if an entire arrangement of game symbols inthe secondary game area is matched or revealed using the target symbols;and awarding the player the prize associated with a particulararrangement of game symbols if the entire arrangement of game symbols ismatched or revealed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer program product comprising a computer readable medium having acomputer program recorded thereon for performing a method of playing alottery type game, said method comprising the steps of: providing a gamemedium including: a primary game area on said game medium, said primarygame area having a plurality of target symbols therein, said targetsymbols being concealed from a player prior to play of the lottery typegame; a secondary game area on said game medium, said secondary gamearea comprising one or more arrangements of game symbols, apredetermined number of the game symbols corresponding to targetsymbols; and a prize determining means on said game medium, said prizedetermining means enabling a player to determine if the player has won aprize after play of the game; revealing said target symbols; matchingand revealing game symbols in said secondary game area using said targetsymbols; determining if an entire arrangement of game symbols in thesecondary game area is matched or revealed using the target symbols; andawarding the player the prize associated with a particular arrangementof game symbols if the entire arrangement of game symbols is matched orrevealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the present inventionwith a primary game area, a secondary game area and a prize determiningmeans.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 duringa stage of play of the lottery type game.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the presentinvention with a primary game area, a secondary game area and a prizedetermining means.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 duringa stage of play of the lottery type game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION DEFINITIONS

The term “symbol” is used to describe any distinguishablerepresentation, which is positioned within a lottery game in a mannerthat it can be located and/or revealed by a player during play of thelottery game and may be, for example, but not limited to a picture of anobject, letter or number or any other graphical representation as wouldbe known to a worker skilled in the relevant art.

The term “target symbol” is used to describe a symbol that is locatedwithin the primary game area.

The term “game symbol” is used to describe a symbol that is locatedwithin the secondary game area

The term “gaming medium” is used to define a medium using which alottery type game can be played. A gaming medium can be a printedmedium, an electronic medium for example a computer or video lotterymachine or any other medium, as would be readily understood by a workerskilled in the art.

The term “arrangement” is used to define a configuration of symbolswherein this configuration can be any shape and have one or more symbolstherein. An arrangement can optionally appear to be a randomconfiguration of symbols.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs.

The present invention provides a lottery type game for play on a gamemedium wherein the lottery type game comprises a primary game areahaving therein a plurality of target symbols and a secondary game areahaving a plurality game symbols therein. The game symbols are positionedin one or more arrangements within the secondary game area. During playof the game, target symbols are used to reveal game symbols within theone or more arrangements through actions including matching of targetand game symbols. Prior to play of the lottery type game at least one ofthe primary game area or the secondary game area is concealed from theview of the player, wherein during play of the game the concealed someor all of the concealed symbols are revealed. Prize determining meansare associated with the game medium, wherein a predetermined prize isassociated with each arrangement of game symbols. A prize associatedwith a particular arrangement of game symbols is won when all of thegame symbols associated with the particular arrangement are revealedduring play of the game. The winning of a lottery type game according tothe present invention may not be accomplished solely by matching targetsymbols with game symbols, an additional action or revealed game symbolcan typically be required in order to reveal a complete arrangement ofgame symbols. This additional action or game symbol identification canprovide a player with an additional incentive to play the game, since byjust revealing the target symbols one is typically unable to determineif a prize is won.

Primary Game Area

The primary game area comprises a plurality of target symbols therein.The target symbols can be arranged in an organised fashion for examplein one or more rows and/or columns wherein each location in a row orcolumn has a target symbol associated therewith. Alternately, the targetsymbols within the primary game area can be arranged in any otherpredetermined manner or optionally can be randomly positioned within theprimary game area.

The target symbols within the primary game area can be either concealedfrom the view of a player or can alternately be visible to a playerprior to play of the lottery type game. If the target symbols areconcealed from the player, these symbols can be revealed during play ofthe lottery type game. If the target symbols are concealed from the viewof the player, one or more symbols or a picture can be covering theprimary game area prior to play of the lottery type game, wherein theone or more symbols or picture may have the location of the targetsymbols within the primary game area indicated thereon.

Secondary Game Area

The secondary game area comprises one or more arrangements of gamesymbols and a predetermined number of the game symbols correspond to thetarget symbols in the primary game area. The one or more arrangements ofgame symbols can be organised for example in one or more rows and/orcolumns wherein each location in a row or column has a game symbolassociated therewith. Alternately, the one or more arrangements withinthe secondary game area can have any other predetermined configurationor optionally the game symbols within a particular arrangement can berandomly positioned therein.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein thearrangements in the secondary game area are collection of rows andcolumns, each arrangement in the secondary game area can be dependent onanother. For example, a portion of a row or column may intersect withanother row or column from another arrangement resulting in aconfiguration similar to a crossword, however in this embodiment, thegame symbols are not limited to letters only.

The target symbols within the primary game area can be either concealedfrom the view of a player or can alternately be exposed from the view ofa player prior to play of the lottery type game. If the target symbolsare concealed from the player, these symbols can be revealed during playof the lottery type game. In addition, some of the game symbols in thesecondary game area can be concealed while other game symbols in thesecondary game area may be visible to the player prior to play of thelottery type game.

Prize Determining Means

The prize determining means enables a player to determine if a prize iswon upon the completion of the play of the lottery type game. The prizedetermining means comprises a prize indicator, for example a dollarvalue, a picture of the prize or other form of indicator, as would bereadily understood by a worker skilled in the lottery game field. Aprize indicator is associated with one or more of the arrangements,wherein when all of the game symbols within a particular arrangementhaving an associated prize indicator therewith, that associated prizeindicator provides a means for determining what is won by the player.

The prize indicator can be visible or concealed from the player prior toplay of the lottery type game, depending on the desire of the lotterytype game operator. It would be readily understood that an indication ofthe potential prize may enhance the possibility that a player woulddecide to play a particular lottery type game.

The lottery type game according to the present invention will be furtherdescribed with reference to the figures illustrating differentembodiments of the present invention.

In one embodiment and with reference to FIG. 1, a lottery type gameaccording to the present invention comprises a primary game area 10including a plurality of locations 20 in a grid formation for example,in the form of a plurality of rows and columns wherein each location hasa target symbol associated therewith. A worker skilled in the relevantart would understand that the primary game area may comprise variousnumbers of rows and columns of locations or the locations may berandomly positioned within the primary game area. In this embodiment, aconcealing layer is associated with the target symbols in order to hidethem from view of a player prior to play of the lottery type game. Theseconcealed target symbols can be revealed by removing the concealinglayer, for example by removing an opaque film from a ticket medium or inthe case of an electronic medium, the image of a target symbol can bedisplayed to the player upon the selection of a location, for example.It would be readily understood that the target symbols can be exposedindependently or collectively depending on the game medium used togetherwith the desire of a player, for example.

In one embodiment of the present invention and with further reference toFIG. 1, the lottery type game has a secondary game area 50 comprising aplurality of arrangements 80 having game symbols 90 therein, wherein inthis embodiment the arrangements are a series of columns. Eacharrangement, however, may comprise a varying number of rows and/orcolumns of game symbols or an arrangement may be presented as a randomcollection or order of game symbols.

In alternative embodiments, the target symbols in the primary game areaand/or the game symbols within the one or more arrangements in thesecondary game area are covered by a concealing layer.

In another embodiment of the present invention, game symbols or targetsymbols may be visible to the player, however these symbols may becovered by a transparent layer or an opaque layer with the identity ofthe symbol below identified thereon. For example, if the target symbolsare covered by an opaque scratch off layer, the game symbols may becovered with a transparent scratch off layer. Once matching target andgame symbols are identified, the game symbol's transparent layer may beremoved to indicate a match with a target symbol. In another embodimentthe transparent layer may be provided with a transparent coloured layer.In this embodiment, when the scratch-off layer is removed, the gamesymbol can be displayed with a different coloured background than thecolour of the scratch-off layer, thereby enabling a player to identifywhich game symbols have been revealed during play.

In one embodiment of the present invention and with reference to FIG. 2,once a target symbol 100 is exposed through the removal of theconcealing layer, game symbols are compared to the target symbols. Uponmatching a target symbol with a game symbol, the game symbol may bemarked as being identical through the use of a transparent scratch offlayer as mentioned above or any other marking system as would be knownby a worker skilled in the relevant art, which can depend on the gamemedium being used to play the lottery type game. Once all target symbols100 in the primary game area 10 are exposed and compared to the gamesymbols 90, a prize may be awarded if all game symbols 90 in aparticular arrangement 80 are revealed using target symbols 100. Forexample, if all game symbols 90 located within the arrangement 80 arematched with target symbols 100 from the primary game area 10 then prizedetermining means 110, indicating the prize associated with thisarrangement is awarded. In an alternate embodiment, a prize may beawarded based on the number of game symbols revealed using targetsymbols during play of the lottery type game. It would be readilyunderstood to a worker skilled in the art that an arrangement can haveany order or type of game symbol therein, however in order to win aprize associated with a particular arrangement, all of the game symbolsin the arrangement are to be revealed.

In one embodiment, a bonus prize may be awarded if a certain game symbolis matched with a target symbol. The introduction of the bonus prize maybe achieved by having the game symbols printed on a scratch off layerfor example, wherein matching of this particular game symbol and theremoval of the concealing layer can result in the revealing of the bonussymbol. If a bonus symbol is revealed then a specific prize may beawarded for this action. A bonus symbol may provide an additional actionwithin the lottery type game to be performed by the player. For examplea bonus symbol may be a progression symbol that can award a player withthe opportunity to reveal an additional game symbol within a particulararrangement of game symbols or provide a player with an opportunity toselect an additional game symbol. This revealing action provided by aprogression symbol can be performed without the requirement of matchingthis additional game symbol with a target symbol.

In one embodiment and with reference to FIG. 3, a lottery type gameaccording to the present invention comprises a primary game area 10including a plurality of locations 20 in a grid formation for example,in the form of a plurality of rows and columns wherein each location hasa target symbol associated therewith. A worker skilled in the relevantart would understand that the primary game area may comprise variousnumbers of rows and columns or the locations may be randomly positionedwithin the primary game area. In this embodiment, a concealing layer isassociated with the target symbols in order to hide them from view of aplayer prior to play of the lottery type game. These concealed targetsymbols can be revealed by removing the concealing layer, for example byremoving an opaque film from a ticket medium or in the case of anelectronic medium, the image of a target symbol can be displayed to theplayer upon the selection of a location, for example. It would bereadily understood that the target symbols can be exposed independentlyor collectively depending on the game medium used together with thedesire of a player, for example.

In one embodiment of the present invention and with further reference toFIG. 3, the lottery type game has a secondary game area 50 comprising aplurality of arrangements having game symbols 90 therein, wherein inthis embodiment the arrangements are a series of interconnected rows andcolumns in a first section and a collection of rows in a further sectionof the secondary game area. Each arrangement, however, may comprise avarying number of rows and/or columns of game symbols or an arrangementmay be presented as a random collection or order of game symbols.

In one embodiment of the present invention and with reference to FIG. 4,a target symbol 100 comprising a word is exposed through the removal ofthe concealing layer and game symbols 90 within the secondary game areacomprising a plurality of letters are compared to the letters formingthe revealed target symbol 100. Upon matching the letters of a targetsymbol with game symbols 90, the game symbols may be marked as beingidentical, for example, through the removal of a transparent layer orthe like as previously defined. For example, the word “BOAT” is revealedas a target symbol and the letters of this target symbol, namely “B”,“O”, “A” and “T” are matched in the secondary game area 50 with fourgame symbols 90 such that these four game symbols are connected to eachother and in the correct sequence. For example, the word “BOAT” can bespelt in the secondary game area using four letters in the correctsequence horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Furthermore, the gamesymbols can form the target symbol in a forwards or backwards type ofconfiguration, for example. Play of the lottery type game continuesuntil all target symbols have been exposed and compared to the gamesymbols 90. Upon revealing all target symbols in the primary game areaand matching these target symbols with the game symbols in the secondarygame area 50, a pre-determined number game symbols 90 may remainunmatched with any target symbols. As such, a prize can be awarded basedon the game symbols 90 remaining that can be compared to furtherarrangements of game symbols having assigned prize determining meansassociated therewith 110. For example, if the unmatched game symbols canbe used to form the word “CAR”, for example, then the prize determiningmeans associated with the arrangement spelling the word “CAR” candetermine the prize won by the player. A worker skilled in the relevantart would understand that various prizes can be awarded based on thenumber of remaining game symbols or the length of the arrangementassociated with the prize determining means. The prize determining meanscan additionally be based on the number of game symbols remainingunmatched using the revealed target symbols. Various bonus prizes canalso be awarded based on the remaining unmatched game symbols. A workerskilled in the relevant art would understand various combinations of theremaining game symbols to award prizes without being outside the scopeof the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming medium is anelectronic gaming terminal that is capable of enabling the play of alottery type game according to the present invention. This gamingterminal can includes a display for displaying various gamerepresentations, and further includes an input device for receivingplayer inputs including game play requests. The input device maycomprise any type of input arrangement including a keyboard, mouse,roller ball, joystick, lever activated switches or one or more pushbuttons. The input device may optionally comprise a touch screen thatmay be integrated with the display. Each gaming terminal may alsoinclude an arrangement for receiving payments from a player and anarrangement for making payouts to the player. Payouts may be made usinga coin or token dispensing arrangement included in the gaming terminal.Alternatively, or in addition to a coin dispensing arrangement, thegaming terminal may include a printer for printing a ticket showing theplayer's winnings.

In one embodiment, the gaming terminal comprises a processor forexecuting game control software that implements the gaming method. Inother configurations of the invention a central computer system remotefrom the gaming terminal can execute some or all of the game control,wherein the gaming terminal becomes a slave in this form of the system.The invention is not limited to any particular processing arrangement,and any processing arrangement that is capable of performing the gamingmethod described in this disclosure is to be considered an equivalent.

It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of theinvention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. In particular, it is within the scope of theinvention to provide a computer program product or program element, or aprogram storage or memory device such as a solid or fluid transmissionmedium, magnetic or optical wire, tape or disc, or the like, for storingsignals readable by a machine, for controlling the operation of acomputer according to the method of the invention and/or to structureits components in accordance with the system of the invention.

Further, each step of the method may be executed on any generalcomputer, such as an IBM System 390, AS/400, PC or the like and pursuantto one or more, or a part of one or more, program elements, modules orobjects generated from any programming language, such as C++, Java,P1/1, or the like. And still further, each said step, or a file orobject or the like implementing each said step, may be executed byspecial purpose hardware or a circuit module designed for that purpose.

The embodiments of the invention being thus described, it will beobvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilledin the art are intended to be included within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A method of playing a lottery type game comprising the steps of: a)providing a game medium including: i) a primary game area on said gamemedium, said primary game area having a plurality of target symbolstherein, said target symbols being concealed from a player prior to playof the lottery type game; ii) a secondary game area on said game medium,said secondary game area comprising one or more arrangements of gamesymbols, a predetermined number of the game symbols corresponding totarget symbols; and iii) a prize determining means on said game medium,said prize determining means enabling a player to determine if theplayer has won a prize after play of the game; b) revealing said targetsymbols; c) matching and revealing game symbols in said secondary gamearea using said target symbols; d) determining if an entire arrangementof game symbols in the secondary game area is matched or revealed usingthe target symbols; and e) awarding the player the prize associated witha particular arrangement of game symbols if the entire arrangement ofgame symbols is matched or revealed.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein one or more game symbols are a bonus symbol.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein upon revealing the bonus symbol a playerwins a predetermined prize.
 4. The method according to claim 2, whereinupon revealing the bonus symbol a player can perform an additionalaction during play of the game.
 5. The method according to claim 4,wherein the additional action is revealing an additional game symbol. 6.The method according to claim 1, wherein a target symbol is a wordcomprising letters and wherein the step of matching and revealing saidgame symbols comprises the matching of the letters of the word withindividual game symbols representing the letters.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the game symbols matching the letters ofthe word are consecutively positioned within the secondary game area. 8.The method according to claim 6, wherein upon the completion of thematching of the target symbols with game symbols, game symbols remainingunmatched with target symbols are used to form a new word.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8, wherein when the new word matches an arrangementassociated with a prize determining means the player wins thecorresponding prize.
 10. A lottery type game apparatus enabling play ofa lottery type game, said apparatus having displayed thereon: a) aprimary game area having a plurality of target symbols therein, saidprimary game area being concealed from a player prior to play of thelottery type game; b) a secondary game area comprising one or morearrangements of game symbols, a predetermined number of the game symbolscorresponding to target symbols, c) a prize determining means fordetermining a prize based on matching target symbols with game symbols,the prize corresponding to an arrangement of game symbols being awardedwhen an entire arrangement of game symbols in the secondary game area ismatched or revealed using the target symbols.
 11. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the lottery game apparatus is a printedmedium.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one of theprimary game area and the secondary game area are concealed by a scratchoff layer, wherein said scratch off layer is selected from the groupcomprising opaque, transparent, coloured transparent.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the lottery game apparatus is anelectronic medium.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein saidelectronic medium is independent.
 15. The apparatus according to claim14, wherein said electronic medium is a slave in a network, wherein aremote computing device controls actions of said electronic medium. 16.A method of playing a lottery type game comprising the steps of: a)providing a game medium including: i) a primary game area on said gamemedium, said primary game area having a plurality of target symbolstherein; ii) a secondary game area on said game medium, said secondarygame area comprising one or more arrangements of game symbols, apredetermined number of the game symbols corresponding to targetsymbols, at least one of the primary game area and the secondary gamearea being concealed from a player prior to play of the lottery typegame; and iii) a prize determining means on said game medium, said prizedetermining means enabling a player to determine if the player has won aprize after play of the lottery type game; b) revealing target symbolsand game symbols that are concealed; c) matching game symbols in saidsecondary game area using said target symbols; d) determining if anentire arrangement of game symbols in the secondary game area is matchedor revealed using the target symbols; and e) awarding the player theprize associated with a particular arrangement of game symbols if theentire arrangement of game symbols is matched or revealed.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16, wherein one or more game symbols are abonus symbol.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein uponrevealing the bonus symbol a player wins a predetermined prize.
 19. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein upon revealing the bonus symbol aplayer can perform an additional action during play of the game.
 20. Themethod according to claim 19, wherein the additional action is revealingan additional game symbol.
 21. The method according to claim 16, whereina target symbol is a word comprising letters and wherein the step ofmatching and revealing said game symbols comprises the matching of theletters of the word with individual game symbols representing theletters.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the game symbolsmatching the letters of the word are consecutively positioned within thesecondary game area.
 23. The method according to claim 21, wherein uponthe completion of the matching of the target symbols with game symbols,game symbols remaining unmatched with target symbols are used to form anew word.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein when the newword matches an arrangement associated with a prize determining meansthe player wins the corresponding prize.
 25. A computer program productcomprising a computer readable medium having a computer program recordedthereon for performing a method of playing a lottery type game, saidmethod comprising the steps of: a) providing a game medium including: i)a primary game area on said game medium, said primary game area having aplurality of target symbols therein, said target symbols being concealedfrom a player prior to play of the lottery type game; ii) a secondarygame area on said game medium, said secondary game area comprising oneor more arrangements of game symbols, a predetermined number of the gamesymbols corresponding to target symbols; and iii) a prize determiningmeans on said game medium, said prize determining means enabling aplayer to determine if the player has won a prize after play of thegame; b) revealing said target symbols; c) matching and revealing gamesymbols in said secondary game area using said target symbols; d)determining if an entire arrangement of game symbols in the secondarygame area is matched or revealed using the target symbols; and e)awarding the player the prize associated with a particular arrangementof game symbols if the entire arrangement of game symbols is matched orrevealed.